A suspect wanted for the murder of a South African university student has been killed in a shootout with the police.

Olorato Mongale’s body was found on Sunday in Lombardy, north of Johannesburg, about two hours after she was reported missing having gone on a date.

In the early hours of Friday morning, police officers found the main suspect hiding at a residential complex in the coastal town of Amanzimtoti, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said.

The suspect, who has not been named by the police, shot at the officers, who returned fire and killed him, Brigadier Mathe added.

Ms Mongale’s death has sparked a fierce debate about the levels of violence faced by women in South Africa.

The search for two other men linked to her killing continues, while police have arrested the parents of the deceased suspect.

The suspect’s mother is accused of enabling him to “evade arrest” by tipping him off about the police’s presence at her house.

The police say they the suspect’s father is the owner of a VW Polo allegedly used in Ms Mongale’s murder.